Status of Egyptian vulture (Neophron percnopterus) in Sicily.

La población del buitre Neophron percnopterus en Sicilia se encuentra restringida a los sectores central y oeste de la isla. La población alcanzó cerca de 30 parejas durante el periodo entre 1970 y 1980, auque durante nuestro periodo de estudio (1990–2007), la población tuvo un tamaño promedio de sólo 7 ± 2 parejas más 2 ± 1 individuos no emparejados, con fluctuaciones considerables en los números. Las tasas reproductivas durante nuestro periodo de estudio (juvenil por pareja reproductiva y juvenil por nido exitoso) fueron típicas para una población europea, aunque la tasa de éxito de los nidos disminuyó y el abandono de nidos durante el período 2000–2007 fue el doble del registrado durante…

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Metodologia per l’individuazione di aree di importanza faunistica

Living on the edge: assessing the extinction risk of critically endangered Bonelli’s eagle in Italy

Background: The population of Bonelli’s eagle (Aquila fasciata) has declined drastically throughout its European range due to habitat degradation and unnatural elevated mortality. There are less than 1500 breeding pairs accounted for in Europe, and the species is currently catalogued as Critically Endangered in Italy, where the 22 territories of Sicily, represent nearly 95% of the entire Italian population. However, despite national and European conservation concerns, the species currently lacks a specific conservation plan, and no previous attempts to estimate the risk of extinction have been made. Methodology/Principal Findings: We incorporated the most updated demographic information ava…

Assessing reintroduction outcome: comparison of the juvenile post-fledging dependence period between wild and reintroduced Bonelli’s eagles in two Mediterranean islands

Abstract Islands are key areas for biodiversity; however, they are extremely sensitive to anthropic actions. This has led to local species extinctions, especially large predators such as raptors. Consequently, reintroduction and conservation projects aimed at reversing population decline of endangered species have recently gained popularity. Nevertheless, their relatively elevated cost and chance of failure make them controversial, hence assessing their effectiveness is essential. Within the early stages of raptors, the post-fledging dependency period (PFDP) is the one in which individuals must face dangers without having completely developed their skills. Thereby, comparing PFDP patterns c…

Alimentazione del lanario Falco biarmicus feldeggii in Sicilia.

Comparative Ecology of Lanner (Falco biarmicus) and Peregrine (Falco peregrinus)

La preferenza dell'habitat dell'Aquila reale, Aquila chrysaetos, in Sicilia

La ricchezza specifica dei Vertebrati in Sicilia

The ‘Atlas of Sicilian Vertebrates’ recorded the distribution of Vertebrates during the 1993-2006 on a UTM grid with cells of 10 x 10 km. Excluding the Chiropterans and all the vertebrates living on the surrounding small islands, 193 species (7 Amphibians, 18 Reptiles, 147 Birds, 21 Mammals) resulted to be present in Sicily. Preliminary investigations found a statistically significant correlation among species richness of each class in the UTMs, which means for example that the richest cells in Amphibians were also the richest in Reptiles, Birds, etc. This correlation persisted when the area-effect was removed by excluding all peripheral cells that included coastland smaller than 100 km2. T…

Factors influencing the distribution, abundance and nest-site selection of an endangered Egyptian vulture (Neophron percnopterus) population in Sicily

Egyptian vulture (Neophrom percnopterus) breeds in Sicily and, in 22 years of monitoring, has shown a decline followed by a slight recovery. We used Generalised Linear Models to predict: (1) the distribution range, (2) the habitat selection within the range, (3) the quality (i.e., occupation rate, breeding success) of breeding sites. Some 60% of Sicily proved to be unsuitable, being either too densely forested and without cliffs for nesting, or too densely populated, along with intensive agriculture. The models converged, indicating that the pairs select a precise upland habitat where low cliffs, distant from urban areas, are surrounded by arboreal crops and Mediterranean vegetation. The va…

Agricoltura estensiva e comunità dei rapaci in Sicilia

Modelli di distribuzione dei Vertebrati della Sicilia: Primi dati

Status and distribution of the Lesser kestrel (Falco naumanni) in Sicily.

SUCCESSFUL FOSTERING OF A CAPTIVE-BORN EGYPTIAN VULTURE (NEOPHRON PERCNOPTERUS) IN SICILY

Successful fostering of the Endangered Egypian vulture was implemeted in 2003 in 2 sites and successfully delivered.The two Egyptian Vulture wild nestlings and the foster nestling were weighed and banded. On 11 August 2003, the two wild juveniles left their nest at 0700 H, followed by the fostered young at 0930 H. One day after fledging, the three young flew back into the nest and in the following days returned to the nest at various times. We were able to track the family in the surrounding area until 28 August 2003. Dispersal from the breeding site occurred at the end of August, the usual period for this population. Our fostering experiment seemed successful; both foster parents and the a…

Habitat preferences of Bonelli's Eagles Aquila fasciata in Sicily

Capsule For breeding, areas dominated by extensive agricultural and rugged Mediterranean landscapes are preferred; maintenance of habitat heterogeneity and extensive agriculture are key for the conservation of this eagle. Aims To model breeding habitat preferences of Bonelli's Eagles Aquila fasciata in Sicily, where the last viable population still remains in Italy, in order to identify the most important habitats for conservation. Methods Pairs were monitored between 1990 and 2010. A case-control design through glms was used at two spatial scales: landscape and home-range. Variables included topographic, climatic, land-use, road and descriptors of habitat heterogeneity. Information-based c…